The 2022 “Global Seoul Mate” project, jointly initiated by the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the Seoul Tourism Organization, is recruiting members to produce and promote Seoul’s tourism-related digital content, the STO announced Monday. The Global Seoul Mates are a delegation of foreigners living in Seoul who have both expertise and passion in producing digital content and utilizing social m...

Trees and plants adorn twinkling light displays at the Herb Island in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, inviting visitors to a winter fiesta. Flowers may not be in abundance due to the winter weather, the botanic garden is full of spectacular lights and holiday cheer at night, making it a perfect spot to celebrate the Yuletide season. Fairy-tale houses, which are surrounded by a vast field of herbs, ...

Everland Winter Wishes Everland Winter Wishes started Dec. 3 and will run through March 1 at Everland in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province. The festival is a fantastic winter event, where tourists can enjoy various attractions like T-express, Thunder Falls, Lost Valley and Safari Ride more freely than during other seasons. The beautiful lights have a golden concept this year, and create a romantic Chr...

Hidden travel destinations known only to locals residing in the area have become the MZ generation’s most preferred travel routes, a survey data showed Thursday. The Seoul Tourism Organization announced the survey results on the “2021 most-favored online Seoul tourism contents,” conducted on some 9,181 respondents over the month of November via its official website. The survey was carried out i...

With an attempt to tame the spread of COVID-19 and the newly confirmed omicron variant, the Seoul Metropolitan Government and local governments have decided to cancel their annual year-end and New Year’s ceremonies. The traditional bell-ringing ceremony at Bosingak in Jongno, central Seoul, at midnight on New Year’s Eve will be held online for a second year in a row, according to the city. Ring...

Everland Winter Wishes Everland Winter Wishes started Dec. 3 and will run through March 1 at Everland in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province. The festival is a fantastic winter event, where tourists can enjoy various attractions like T-express, Thunder Falls, Lost Valley and Safari Ride more freely than other seasons. The beautiful lights have a golden concept this year, and create a romantic Christmas ...

We may be heading into the darkest winter of the COVID-19 pandemic, but Myeong-dong wants us to keep our spirits bright. The once-bustling shopping mecca of Seoul is not busy as it used to be pre-pandemic, but it is twinkling, sparkling and shining brighter than ever before with extravagant Christmas light displays. Millions of LED lights adorn the exterior of departments stores and other build...

Grand Hyatt Seoul in Hannam-dong, central Seoul, opened an outdoor ice rink for the Christmas season, which is famous for tree lightings around the ice rink and a breathtaking view of the city skyline. The iconic winter destination for families and lovers has been featured in Korean dramas and movie. The festive ice rink will be open until Feb. 20.

Daegwallyeong Snow Festival The Daegwallyeong Snow Festival will run from Jan. 21-30 at the area of Songcheon Stream in Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province. The annual festival began in 1993 and has become among the most famous winter festivals in South Korea. The event features beautiful snowy hills and enjoyable activities for both children and adults. Admission fees are yet to be announced, but ...

The Korea Tourism Organization predicted next year’s domestic travel trends with the acronym, HABIT-US, on Tuesday, the results showing a shift in travel preferences and patterns brought out by the COVID-19 pandemic. The results were based on travel-related big data analysis over the past three years, including travel expenses and use of social media, as well as in-depth interviews with industry...

A rusty railroad abandoned in Seoul brings back old memories and warm nostalgia. Hang-dong Railroad, located in Guro-gu, Seoul, is a 4.5-kilometer track drenched with a vintage atmosphere, with traces of train stations and destination signs left here and there. Lined with deep greenery and green barley, the 62-year-old railway is now one of the most beloved places for Seoulites to go and reflec...

Busan Fireworks Festival The Busan Fireworks Festival is scheduled to run from Dec. 24-31 in areas around Gwangalli Beach in Busan. The annual festival, which usually takes place in the fall, features high-tech laser light shows and a myriad of colorful fireworks. While most people flock to the beach for a closer view of the fireworks, some people choose to enjoy the festival from nearby mount...

“Before that happens, I wanted to give my children a memorable winter experience. They have not been able to enjoy proper outdoor activities since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic,” Kim said. The waiting lines were long everywhere -- rental shops, cable lifts, restaurants and parking lots. “I am a beginner skier, so the level of the slopes did not really matter to me. But I did not expect ...

The Guro Industrial Complex, located in Guro-dong, southwestern Seoul, was once the heart of South Korea’s labor-intensive light industries back in the late 20th century. The Guro Industrial Complex, established in 1965, was the first of its kind in South Korea. The district, which was relatively empty before, was soon filled up with manufacturing facilities and factory workers. The complex, wh...